The largest stupa at Mihintale and the building visible for miles across the plain. The original brick dome was constructed in the 1st century BC and is said to enshrine a relic — a single hair of the Buddha. The whitewashed exterior dates from later renovations; the most recent restoration was completed in the 1950s.
A circular terrace runs around the base, with sweeping views over the Anuradhapura plain in every direction. At sunset, with the lower temples lit up below, this is one of the more striking places in the whole island.